Concrete pile



Dec. 29, 1936. E. c. ALEXANDER CONCRETE PILE Filed May 18, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Now.

f N mw@ mmmuwwww 9.5

Dec. 29, 1936. E. c. ALEXANDER CONCRETE PILE Filed May 18, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 .[21 J2 2 13 J6 il if 22 67 r' J5 Jg J2 )57k M750/ef yam@@s Patented Dec. 29V, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE PILEApplication May 18, 1935, Serial No. 22,140

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to concrete piles, and is particularlyconcerned with the provision of concrete piles for use in places wherelong concrete piles cannot be used for lack of head space or whereequipment is not available for driving piles of long length or where theterrain is of such nature that it would be impossible to determine howlong the pile should be to sustain a predetermined load until the pilehas been driven.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedconcrete pile which is sectional so that it may be used in locationswhere the ground is of such nature that it is impossible or notdesirable to determine in advance exactly how long the pile should be tosustain a predetermined load so that the pile may be driven and sectionsadded until it is ascertained that the pile has been driven to suicientdepth to sustain the load which is to be carried thereby.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedsectional concrete pile which may be installed where equipment is notavailable for driving piles of long length or where there is notsuiiicient Vhead room to install a pile of longer length than thesections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedsectional concrete pile in which provision is made for the ends of thesections to withstand the impact which is transmitted from the top pileto the lower sections without breakage or spalling at the ends of thesections, and in which provision is made for securing a uniform bearingbetween the ends of sections, in spite of the irregularities due toordinary methods of manufacture of concrete piles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of formsof connection between concrete pile-sections of the class describedwhich are adapted to maintain the concrete piles in alignment during thedriving and afterwards, and which are adapted to transmit the impact orforce from one section to another without breakage during the drivingoperation.

Another object is the provision of a plurality of modified forms ofsectional concrete piles and/or connections between sectional concretepiles, each of which has peculiar advantages which may be utilized inspecial installations, depending upon the conditions present during thedriving of the concrete piles or the material available for constructionof the piles.

I desire it to be understood that all of the simpler forms oftheinvention need not include vall of the features which possess additionalad -vantages .and .which areembodied in the `more two adjacent sections,constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the detailsof construction of the coupling;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view, showing an elevation of two sections ofpiling constructed according to Fig. 2, with the parts of the jointseparated;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the female part of the joint of asection of concrete piling, shown at the right in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of anothermodied form of coupling for sectional concrete piling;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the plane of the line 1--1 of Fig.6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the female part of the coupler ofFig. 6, viewed from the left of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, showing anothermodification;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line Ill-l0 ofFig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line I l-II ofFig. 9, looking in the direction oi the arrows.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, 2U' indicates in its entirety the completepiling, consisting of a plurality of sections, each of which isindicated by the numerals 2| to 26. The breaks shown in the drawings mayindicate either the fact that the section is much longer or that anynumber of additional sections may be inserted.

The piling sections may be made of any suitable cross-section, and Icontemplate the use of all of the standard column sections, dependingupon the conditions encountered. Therefore, the substantially squarepiling section shown in Figs. 3 and 5 is merely exemplary of one of theforms which the piling may take, and it may be constructed `in any,convenient shape. y It is, howl ever, economical and convenient toconstruct the piling with flat sides in substantially rectangularsection, and desirable that the corners should be beveled as shown, inorder to eliminate breakage.

The sections may consist of three types, such as, for example, the pointsection 2|, the head section 26, and intermediate sections 23 to 25. Thepoint section 2| differs from the others in that it is provided withonly one part of the joint, such as, for example, the female part, andis provided at the opposite end with the point formation 2l. The headsection 26 differs from the intermediate sections 23 to 25 in that it isprovided only at one end with a coupler part, such as the male couplerformation in Fig. 1, while the opposite end is plane and adapted to beused for the driving end. Each of the intermediate sections 23 to 25 isprovided with the different coupler formations on opposite ends, onebeing the female coupler and the other the male coupler.

All of the sections are preferably provided with a pair of inwardlyextending apertures 28 located at one side and spaced from each other,the apertures be-ing substantially cylindrical and of a size suitable toslidably receive the shank 29 of the eye bolt or lifting ring 30. Whenthe lifting rings have their shanks placed in these apertures andsuitable lifting devices are connected to the rings, the transverse pullon the rings causes the shanks 29 to bind in the apertures or bores 28,whereby the shanks are held in the bores in such a manner that the ringsmay be used for lifting the sections. Of course, the lifting rings maybe removed entirely when there is no longer need for them, and theapertures may be used, if desired, for supporting other dev1ces.

The piling is preferably provided with suitable reinforcement, such as,for example, the longitudinally extending rods 3|, one of which islocated adjacent each of the corners of the section, but suicientlyspaced from the outer surface to be permanently embedded and protectedby the concrete. The horizontal reinforcement may consist of the rods orwires 32 which are bent to substantially rectangular formations, butotherwise may proceed in the form of a helix so that the wire or rod 32is in one complete integral length for any section of the piling. It maybe secured to each of the rods 3| by welding or tie wires at all orpredetermined points of contact between the wires 3| or 32.

In the point section 2| the point 2'! comprises a substantiallypyramidal formation which is actually the frustum of a pyramid, sincethe extreme end 33 of the point may be flat. The reinforcing rods 3| arebent inward at 34 and extend substantially parallel to the surface ofthe frustum.

The peripherally extending rods 32 are also formed into rectangles ofsmaller shape to correspond to the shape of the point 21. The endsurfaces 35, 36 of the pile sections 2|, 23 and other sections arepreferably made substantially flat or plane so as to provide a pair ofsurfaces which will fit each other as nearly as possible to transmit theforce from one section to the other. Due, however, to irregularities inthe surfaces caused by ordinary methods of manufacture, and due to theinherent roughness of ordinary concrete articles, I prefer to use apacking 3'| between these piles during the driving operation.

The arrangement of the parts of the coupling with respect to theconcrete is, of course, such as to permit room for this packing, whichmay require approximately one quarter of an inch space or more. Thepacking 3l may consist of a sheet of resilient rubber, ber, wood, or anyother suitable material, the rubber being preferred on account of itscapability of engaging irregular surfaces and conforming to them. Incases where unusually long piles are driven, the packing may be made ofthe harder rubber.

The packing has a. centrally located aperture 38 for passing thecoupler, and it is similar in shape, that is, substantially rectangular,with beveled corners, as shown in the section of the pile in Fig. 3.

With respect to the coupling shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the male coupler mayconsist of a metal tube 39 of a smaller diameter than the pile so thatit may be embedded therein and so that it may still leave suicientsurface 35, 36 at the ends of the piles for transmitting the force. Thismetal pipe 39 of steel or other suitable material has one end embeddedin the section 23, and the other end projecting from the section 23,approximately half the tube projecting and half embedded.

The projecting part, however, is also preferably lled with concrete at40 and, if desired, a furthe-r packing may be located at 4| in the lowerend of the tube 42, which comprises the female coupling member, locatedin the section 2|. Tube 42 may be only slightly longer than theprojecting part of the tube 39, but is hollow and is adapted to receivethe tube 39 with a close sliding t. In some embodiments of the inventionconsiderable play may be permitted between these two tubular steelmembers, but in other embodiments it may be desirable to have a closefrictional fit, or they may be tapered slightly so as to have a drivingt which would prevent any lateral movement at the connection. Theiinishecll piling would then look like that shown in Fig.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is a modification which employs the samestructure of piling reinforcement and packing, but is provided with adifferent form of coupling. In this case we may assume that the samesections are used, for example section 2| and section 22, and section 22is provided With a tubular steel member 43, which has its projecting endthreaded as at 44. An ordinary metal tube may be threaded and utilizedto form the member 45 for threading on the member 44, in which case thefemale coupling member would consist of one integral tube.

I prefer, however, to use a standard coupling 45, and therefore providean auxiliary metal tube or sleeve 46, which fits on the outside of thecoupler 45 land permits it to be disposed at a greater distance insidethe end of the section 2|. Member 46 may be a drive fit on member 45 ormay be soldered or welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Boththe members 43 and 45 are preferably provided with some means forpreventing their rotation and for anchoring them in the concrete.

For this purpose, either or both may be provided with the transverseridges and bores 41, through which a rod 48 may be driven, having bothof its ends projecting into the concrete outside the tube and extendingthrough the concrete in the tube. Other rods 49 may be similar instructure and arranged transversely to the first-mentioned rod 48. One,two, three, or 75 any suitable? number Vof rodsfmay be used toincreasethe anchorage as desired.

These same rods mightbe used in the coupling 45, if the coupling werelong enough .to give sufficient threaded engagement with the member 43,after inserting the rods,v but I prefer to use longitudinally extendingrods 50, a plurality of which are welded as at 5| to the outside of thecoupling.

Member 55 may also. be used in the form of .a pipe capwhich will closethe end and keep the concrete from extending Vupinto the threaded boreof the cap.

Another mode ofV anchoring these members is to make cuts into the bodythereof and bend out anchoring formations from the bodies of the tubesr43, 45. In this case, as in the others, the tube 43 .is filled. withconcrete to its end, but thev coupling 45 is hollow.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 1'1, this is another modification in which thetubular member 52 is a drive fit into the tubular member 53. In thiscase, additional reinforcement has been provided around the couplingmembers 52, 53 in the form of the members 54, 55, which consist of rodsbent to the form shown. The rods 54, 55 are located immediately insideof the rods 32, at points spaced from the corner rods 3|, and the rods54 extend longitudinally of the pile for approximately the` length ofthe portion of the tube 52, which is embedded. Rods 54 then extenddiagonally downward to the point or apex 5G, after which they are bentdiagonally downwardly and toward the right, as shown in Fig, 9, so thatthe end may again extend parallel to the tube 52.

These rods 54 may be Welded or otherwise secured together and to thereinforcing rods 32. This reinforcement will prevent any tendency of theend of the pile to spread due to the forces exerted upon it, and willreinforce the pile suitably for withstanding greater blows or impactsduring the driving of the pile and during the placing of one couplingmember 52 in the other coupling 53. In any of these devices the malecoupling may be uppermost or the female coupling may be uppermost. Y

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved concretepiling in which the piles are made in sections so that it is notnecessary to determine the complete length of the pile before driving.The present piling may be installed where there is not sufficient headroom for longer piling, and it may be installed Where the equipment isnot suitable for driving longer piling. Furthermore, it will be of greatadvantage in turn where it is impossible to determine in advance howlong the piling should be, and additional sections may be added untilthe piling is considered sufliciently firm to support the weightdesired.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a sectional concrete piling, the combination of one section ofconcrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantially rectangular cross section formed of concreteand providedwith metallic reinforcing rods, vsaid section having one end formed witha.cylindrical depression therein, and said depression'being lined withav metallic tube, av second .reinforced concrete piling section ofsimilar shape, having its. end formed with a tubular concrete filledextension covered with a metal member extending into the sai-d lattersection and anchored therein, said concrete piling sections havingadjacent flat bearing surfaces on their ends, and a sheet of resilientrubber of substantially uniform thickness for evenly distributing thebearing load and thrust from one piling section to the other, saidmetallic tubular parts having a. close frictional t with each otherwhereby the piling sections may be Vfitted and securedltogether as asubstantially unitary member.Y

2. In a sectional concrete piling, the combinationof one' section of.concrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantiallyrectangular cross section formed of concrete and providedwith metallic reinforcing rods, said section having one end formed witha cylindrical depressionv therein, and said depression being lined witha metallic tube, a second reinforced concrete piling section of similarshape, having its end formed with a tubular concrete lled extensioncovered with a metal member extending into the said latter section andanchored therein, said 4concrete piling sections having adjacent flatbearing surfaces on their ends, anda Vsheet of resilient rubber ofsubstantially uniform thickness for evenly distributing the bearing loadand thrust from one piling section to the other, said metallic tubularparts having a close frictional fit with each other whereby the pilingsections may be fitted and secured together as a substantially unitarymember, said tubular parts being provided With transversely extendingrods passing therethrough and imbedded in the concrete of said sectionsto firmly anchor said tubular parts in said sections.

3. In a sectional concrete piling, the combination of one section ofconcrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantially rectangular cross section formed of concrete and providedwith metallic reinforcing rods, said section having one end formed witha cylindrical depression therein, and said depression being lined with ametallic tube, a second reinforced concrete piling section of similarshape, having its end formed with a tubular concrete lled extensioncovered with a metal member extending into the said latter section andanchored therein, said concrete piling sections having adjacent flatbearing surfaces on their ends, and a sheet of resilient rubber ofsubstantially uniform thickness for evenly distributing the bearing loadand thrust from one piling section to the other, said metallic tubularparts having a close frictional t with each other whereby the pilingsections may be tted and secured together as a substantially unitarymember, said tubular parts being provided with complementary threadedformations whereby the one may be secured into the other to draw saidpiling sections into close contact with each other to compress therubber packing therebetween.

4. In a sectional concrete piling, the combination of one section ofconcrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantially rectangular cross section formed of concrete and providedwith metallic reinforcing rods, said section having one endV formed witha cylindrical depression therein, and said depression being lined with ametallic tube, a second reinforced concrete piling section of similarshape, having its end formed with a tubular concrete filled extensioncovered with a metal member extending into the said latter section andanchored therein, said concrete piling sections having adjacent flatbearing surfaces on their ends, and means for evenly distributing thebearing load and transmitting the thrust from one piling section to theother, said metallic tubular parts having a close frictional fit witheach other whereby the piling sections may be fitted and securedtogether as a substantially unitary member.

5. In a sectional concrete piling, the combination of one section ofconcrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantially rectangular cross section formed of concrete and providedwith metallic reinforcing rods,

said section having one end formed with a cylindrical depressiontherein, and said depression being lined with a metallic tube, a secondreinforced concrete piling section of similar shape, having its endformed with a tubular concrete lled extension covered with a metalmember extending into the said latter section and anchored therein, saidconcrete piling sections having adjacent flat bearing surfaces on theirends, and means for evenly distributing the bearing load andtransmitting the thrust from one piling section to the other, saidmetallic tubular parts having a close frictional t with each otherwhereby the piling sections may be tted and secured together as asubstantially unitary member, said piling sections each having a cage ofreinforcing rods about said metallic tubes, said cage comprising rodsextending longitudinally of said pile near said tube and diagonallytoward a common apex in said pile beyond said tube.

6. In a sectional concrete piling, the combination of one section ofconcrete piling comprising a unitary precast concrete member ofsubstantially rectangular cross section formed of concrete and providedwith metallic reinforcing rods, said section having one end formed witha cylindrical depression therein, and said depression being lined with ametallic tube, a second reinforced concrete piling section of similarshape, having its end formed with a tubular concrete lled extensioncovered With a metal member extending into the said latter section andanchored therein, said concrete piling sections having adjacent ilatbearing surfaces on their ends, and means for evenly distributing thebearing load and transmitting the thrust from one piling section to theother, said metallic tubular parts having a close frictional fit witheach other whereby the piling sections may be fitted and securedtogether as a substantially unitary member, said sections having pairsof parallel, spaced, inwardly extending bores located on the same sidefor receiving lifting members adapted to bind in said bores.

E. C. ALEXANDER.

